Tension device



L. T. HOUGHTON TENSION DEVICE Filed Dec. 26 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 GE'IWW.

Nov. 1924? v 1,516,885

L. T. HOUGHTON TENSION DEVICE Filed Dec. 26, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet. 2

Patented Nov. 25, 1924.

LEWIS T. HOUGZETON, OF WORCESTER, IK IASSACHUSETTS.

TENSION DEVICE.

Application filed December 26, 1922. Serial No. 608,882.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Lnwis T. HoUeH'roN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Worcester, in the county of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Tension Device, of which the following is a specification.

This is a continuation, in part, of my prior application Serial No. 532,001, filed January 26, 1922,

This invention relates to a tension de vice for use in spooling or winding thread, yarn or the like. The principal objects of the invention are to provide a self acting and practical device of this character of such a nature as actually to secure the long desired result of a substantially constant tension, and therefore uniform winding, under all variations in speed and other changeable conditions; to provide a device which instantly and automatically responds to the most minute variations in pull on the yarn; to provide means for actually changing the number of points at which tension is applied to the yarn while it is running through the tension device in order to neutralize the changes in tension; to provide for automatic action in two Ways both having the effect of bringing the yarn tension back to normal; and to provide a de vice of this character with means for balancing the normal minimum drag to the desired tension so as to render it suitable for fine or weakthread or yarn and yet leave it in'such condition as to operate automatically in the two ways just mentioned.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

Reference is to be had to the accompany ing drawings, in Which- F 1 is aplan of a tension device constructed in accordance with this invention and said prior application and showing the yarn in a position which it frequently assumes;

vFig. right end elevation of the same with the guides in section;

F 3 is a front elevation but showing the tension fingers all down in their lowermost position;

s. is a left end elevation of the tension device;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line 55 of Fig. 4:, showing details of the tension device;

Fig. 6 is a sectional viewon the line 6-6 of Fig. 4:;

Fig. 7 is a plan of a preferred form of the invention;

Fig; 8 is a sectional view on the line .8-8 of Fig. 7; and

Figs. 9 and 10 are opposite end views.

The art of spoofing and winding.

In the spooling of yarn from filling wound bobbins there are several causes .for variation in strain on the yarn that have to be compensated for by an elastic tension device in order to secure uniform Winding on the spool. The yarn is wound from a bobbin or cop from a conical surface and it plays up and down the side of this conical surface dm'ing the winding operation. .Obviously the diameter of the convolution of yarn from which it is being drawn varies constantly as it comes successively from dif ferent layers in different vertical positions on the bobbin. It also varies with the position from which the yarn is taken on the bobbin as the bobbin is unwound more and more. Another variation is due to the ballooning of the yarn and consequent air resistance. W hen the yarn is being wound from a point near the bobbin itself, "the rapidity of revolution is greater than it is when it is being Wound from the circumference of the original yarn package. In fact, in the former case the rotations are about twice as fast and the air resistance necessarily varies to the same degree. It will be seen that some of these variations occur rapidly, that is from to 100' times a minute wiile others change slowly as the yarn approaches the end of the bobbin. In addition to that there irregular variations due to irregularities and imperfections in the yarn or in its winding on the bobbin and consequent momentary and sudden increases in the resistance of the yarn.

There is also anothervariation which is slow and cumulative due to the fact that, when winding on the spool the spool speed is constant but, as theyarn ivindson it and the diameter on which it is wound increases, the speed of the yarn through tlie tension device will gradually increase bv uniform gradations so that a tension device ordinarily is not equally effective throughout the entire body of the yarn woundon a single spool.

It will be seen, therefore, that the speed of the yarn gradually and uniformly increases during the winding operation but the other changes are alternating in character and most of them sudden, some being regular and some irregular. The great variation in size and material of yarn, from silk to asbestos covered wire and the variation in size and shape of these yarn packages obviously present varying conditions for spooling yarn.

The prior art.

It has been usual heretofore to design the tension devices, intended for overcoming some of these various difficulties, for the particular material on which they are to operate. I will not describe all the different prior devices but for the winding of filling wound yarn numerous devices have been invented which, so far as they relate to the present invention, ma be described coming in two groups. ne of these is represented by my own prior patents in which a series of horizontal guides support the yarn and a series of tension fingers alternating with them rest on the yarn and swing about a transverse pivot. The variations in drag are intended to be compensated for by the drag itself acting to raise the pivoted fingers and reduce the amplitude of the undulations of the yarn through the tension device.

Another form of tension device has been proposed, but not successfully used as far as I am aware, in which there is a fixed series of yarn guides and a pivoted series, the pivot being arranged on an axis parallel with all the yarn guides. The pivoted series was intendedto be operated at a distance from the movable series and to move toward them upon anincrease in drag for the purpose of reducing the tension in that way to partially compensate for an increase in drag. These have always, as far as I know, been dependent upon either weights or springs, which would vary in effect, in accordance with the different positions of the pivoted guides, and which could not be adjusted to take care of all kinds of yarn and particularly wire. In some of these devices it has been claimed that the movable guides could go out of action when enough drag was put upon them, but they have all been so constructed that they were intended to be operated normally with all the guides in con tact with the yarn and it would be only after a very great pull on the yarn, such as would not occur often in ordinary practice, that the movable ones would be moved substantially into the field of the stationary .ones and some of them might move out of contact with the yarn. There has been no means of ad ust1ng such devices so that both of these actlons could always during operation take place instantaneously and on slight change in strain, so that the device would work normally in such a way as to provide for relieving both great and small changes in strain, by the yarn itself, instantaneously and accurately all through the extent of the several variations in strain above mentioned. In other words, they have not succeeded in accomplishing the result of securing an even tension throughout both the constantly repeated small variations and the irregularly occurring and relatively great variations in drag that are incident to the winding and spooling of yarn of all kinds.

1 find that none of the above devices has a universal application even in the industry of winding yarn. They all have to be designed or adjusted for any considerable differencein the number or size of the yarn and especially for different kinds of yarn. Even when used for the particular size, kind and quality of yarn for which they are desi ned, they lag behind and are not capable of securing an even tension through the entire unwinding of the yarn from a single bobbin or cop. Consequently they do not always lay the yarn evenly on the spool or other article which is being wound and the yarn itself therefore will vary in elasticity as it is laid on the spool and furthermore the more accurately and finely they do work the more breaks in the yarn will occur. Thus, if these types of tension devices, in which there is a series of pivoted fingers or guides, work so as to secure ordinarily a reasonabl even tension they will, when subjected to a sudden strain, move so far as to release all tension and then their consequent sudden recoil will deliver a sharp blow to the yarn and sometimes break it.

The purpose of this invention.

This invention is designed to make use of the advantages of the above mentioned devices causing changes in velocity whether small or great, gradual or sudden, continuous or intermittent, to tend to relieve themselves by their own action, first by straight ening the yarn path and second by auto matically and immediately reducing the number of yarn contacts with the yarn guides or tension fingers. I arrange the parts so that both of these methods of relief are always ready to act at once and there is no appreciable time when either of them cannot act instantaneously. At the same time I adjust the tension device in such 'a way that, from the slowest speed at which the yarn moves normally up to its maximum speed, the device will operate, always vibrating between its lowest and highest point, and that the changes in position will take effect when the velocity changes so as to compensate for itimmediately and this compensation will be accomplished solely by the the use of an adjusting men. s

yarn itself. In case of increasing yarn strain the drag will be relieved just enough to overcome it. At the same time these improvements enable me to run the winding operation for any size yarn at a much higher speed than has ever been. done before, thus increasing production and reducing cost as well as improving the yarn package and also improving the yarn itself by conserving its elasticity and reducing breakage to a minimum.

This invention also accomplishes the yarn or other material passing over the.

stationary guides by applying pressure to it. I have heretofore designed the movable guides so that their weight, acting on the yarn furnishes the necessary pressure and that principle I have retained here but I have added to it another feature, namely by which the weight or pressure of the movable guides can be adjusted to the yarn condione existing bv adding to it or subtract 'i'rom it (in the form shown on the second sheet. as the conditions may require. I also shape the fingers that the path varies its position on them so that scoring will not always take place at the same point. This increases the life of the guides.

First sheet of drawings.

Referring now to the first sheet of drawings, I will describe more specifically a practical device for securing the above men tioned results. Although capable of genera use, I have shown the invention as applied to a spooling machine in which a strand of yarn Y is taken from a bobbin or cop B and wound on a spool S on the spooler. No other elements of the spoolitng machine are shown or described except the usual rail It, as this invention is not ited to any particular kind of winding or to the horizontal position.

@ver the rail 3?. I provide a sheet metal bracket 9. This bracket can be fixed to the rail by a bolt 10 or in any other desired way and is fixed in absolutely stationary position.

Qne of these brackets is used for each tension device and for each spool a series, as for example four, of stationary yarn guides 12 shown in substantially horiserial position though they can be located position. They are shown on a I I 1 upward incline toward the rail. I ave shown them with upwardly inclined ends and a depression near each end, said depressions being in a row and constituting what amounts to a horizontal groove. The plate ll which supports these guides is ided with a pair of parallel ears 13 rated for a rotatable rod or shaft 14. l extends outward at the outer end is bent at 15 to provide a handle for use in manipulating it. On this rod is securely fixed a plate 16 of sheet metal from which urteud a series of tension fingers or yarn guides 17.

l have shown the shaft parallel with t e plane of the series of yarn guides 12 but perpendicular to their length so that the device can be threaded simply by turnng them back and laying the yarn on the stationary guides. I have shown the fins 17 as extending from the top of said lies at different heights but in alignment each other and I have preserved this .ation with respect to their active portions. Therefore, the parallel and substan- I horizontal active portions ofthese jers 17 are in a plane inclined with respect to the plane of the lingers '12. Beginnin at one end of the series, each finger *5 is at a greater distance from the plane of the finge s of i 12 than the one on that side t when these fingers are in their lowest ion. the movable fingers swing, angle which each makes with the plane 1e fixed fingers varies. Therefore the position of the yarn on them changes a little. This distributes the wear and prevents grooves forming in the fingers due to the travel. of the yarn across them. I have also shown the ends of the fingers as bent over at 18 downwardly.

In the lowest position in which they can rest the highest one is nearly in the plane 0 e stationary fingers so that it is ready be lifted above then] on any increase in yarn drag above its minimum.

The parallel cars 18 above mentioned can be made integral with the vertical plate 11, if desired, but I prefer to provide an adjustment and for this purpose they are mounted on a plate 20 which fits against the back of the plate 11 and which is secured to that plate by a bolt 21 and nut 22, the bolt passing through a vertical slot 23 in the plate 11. This plate 20 is provided with two integral projections extending forwardly tln'ough the slot 23 and fitting its opposite sides so as to constitute a guide for lree 'iing the plate 20 always in the same iosition independently of its verstment. The plate 16 is provided ardly projecting ears by which to the shaft 14 and it is also provided with a projection 19 which, when the plate is moved over to its limiting position,

engages the back of the plate 11 and prevents further motion in that direction. This constitutes the limiting means.

I have provided on the shaft 141- a rotary toothed wheel 30. It is freely mounted on the shaft and is capable of turning and sliding both. Qn the plate 20 there is a projection 31 which engages in one of the teeth of this wheel to hold it against turning, but the wheel is free to slide out of engagement with the projection 31. and to be turned. he purpose of this is to adjust the tension of a spring one end of which is fixedly secured at one end to this wheel. This spring is wound around the shaft 1% and the other end presses against the plate 16 so that the tension of the spring serves to assist gravity in holding the tension fingers down in active position and this tension can be adjusted as desired.

I have also provided means for locking the gear wheel against sliding motion, this being shown in the form of a notched lever 35 which is secured to the plate 16 by a screw 36 so that when'it swings so that the shoulder 37 moves against the wheel as shown in full lines in Fig. 4 the wheel is prevented from being displaced along the shaft. When it is desired to adjust the spring the screw 36 is loosened and the outer end of this lever moved up so the wheel is free to slide along the shaft out of engagement with the projection 31.

In this device the yarn moves through a clear path which is always open to'view and'on the surfaces of which no waste can collect to impair the tension as in many other devices. The device results in uniform tension.

0 pcmtion.

In operation, the operator moves the handle 15 over to swing the movable tension fingers back to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 6 and the yarn is laid on the lower yarn guides. Then the movable fingers are allowed to swing back toward the stationary ones and they draw the yarn down between them to cause the yarn to pass up and down along the sinuous path. The guides are so arranged that, at a minimum velocity, one of the movable ones is close to the yarn path just ready to be lifted above it at the slightest increase in yarn drag. WVhen the yarn passes through the device every resistance that it encounters and every tendency to speed up adds to the force which it exerts on the movable tension fingers that are pressed down by gravity and by the spring. This force will lift the whole pivoted series and in operation the yarn runs with this series of fingers supported by it and vibrating somewhat up and down. Just as soon as the yarn strain increases it lifts the movable fingers so far that the one at the highest'level will come up above the yarn and cease to have any effect upon it, the yarn passing over the two adjacent guides below without being depressed at all between them. In this way tension is taken off the yarn instantaneously because the number of yarn contacts and undulations in the path of the yarn is diminished. Now, if the speed of winding slows up or the obstacle which caused additional strain is removed, there will be less force to hold the fingers up and they will more back to normal position. This soon brings the fourth finger into contact with the yarn and adds therefore another tension area to it. This is an additional feature over my tension devices because they have depended heretofore on the operation of a spring or an increase in the force of gravity or some such feature which wasordinarily not great enough to overcome the variations which occur in the ordinary winding of yarn or threads. Now, Without giving up those advantages, I have provided a means for varying the number of areas at which tension is applied to the moving strand of yarn and the action does not lag behind its course because there are no weights or springs that vary the tension by changes in leverage, friction or compression. As the yarn path starts to straighten there is no increased resistance due to intervening weights or springs.

In this way, I have found in practice that I can wind yarn from a minimum practical speed to speeds higher than have been considered the maximum heretofore and with the most delicate means which I have had for measuring the tension I cannot perceive that there is any difference in the tension. Furthermore, the yarn is wound uniformly and the number of breaks is very materially reduced.

Second sheet. 7'

The device above described and illustrated in Sheet 1 of the drawings is the one disclosed in my above identified application. It has proved an important and valuable addition to this art but I find in actual mill practice that it has certain limitations. The guides and fingers must be made of large enough wire so that the constant scoring of the yarn, which necessarily takes place in this art, will not soon render them unfit for use. For that reason the minimum weight of the whole set of movable fingers is necessarily limited. Fingers made of a practical size and a-practical length are suitable for use with certain kinds of yarn but they are somewhat too heavy for use with the finer or weaker grades of yarn. Furthermore the movement of a set of relatively heavy fingers lags behind the sudden and momentary changes in drag so that it does not correct them rapidly enough for some kinds of work. Moreover in Sheet 1 as originally described nothing was said about any means for decreasing the pressure to permit its use for relatively line or weak yarn or to enable it to be used in any but horizontal position.

I have discovered that by a very simple change in the construction above described with reference to Sheet 1, I can balance the drag to the desired tension and, at the same time, can use large wires for the movable tension fingers so that they will stand a lot of use and if they are normally too heavy for the yarn on which they are to be used, I can easily reduce their pressure on the yarn as well as increase it when conditions require it. In this way F: can balance these fingers, whatever their original weight to any desired pressure on the yarn that may be necessary and at the same time the action of the fingers will be instantaneous. In spite of the relatively large size of the fingers they wil respond to changes in strain, either increase or decrease and do it instantly, Without lagging behind them. Consequently the easement which they provide will take effect as soon as the change in strain has come into effect. I use this balancing feature for all sizes of yarns and it can be applied to constructions in which the guides and fingers are not horizontal.

I connect the spring 32, shown on the first sheet of drawings positively with the wheel 30 and l also bend its end 33 around the edge of the frame 16 so that it tend to move it in either direction to ance it according to its adjustment. T fore, this spring can be adjusted by r of the wheel 80 so that it will. add t force of gravity or other pressure d the movable fingers or it will reduce the same according to the conditions existing. This enables me to balance the drag against the desired tension. at the same ime this adjustment can be made so delicate that, 1 I

with whatever yarn or other material s ti be used, the effect on the tension will be simultaneous with the change strain which is to be overcome by it.

Before operation, the device must be adjusted so that with minimum yarn vein"- e. an empty spool) the drag will produce the desired tension. The drag just balances the tension thereby forcing the yarn itself to offset increase in strain by release ofa corresponding amount of drag. The drag is absolutely governed by the arn itself and the yarn is compelled to control the drag. I

Thisilconstitutes a fine adjustment which is? particularly valuable in operating upon thefinest and weakest grades of yarn and enables me to use the same tension device for all grades without substituting heavier or lighter tension fingers when shifting from one kind of yarn to another. This enables me to use larger guides than were formerly practicable and thius increasing their life which is limited their being scored by the yarn, In fact, I have found in pra:.tice that a device designed for spooling the finest grade of yarns can be employed without change, except the adjust ment of the device, for winding copper wire covered with asbestos, which presents very different problems. can balance the dc rice to be so sensitive that it accurately and instantly compensates for all variations in spool speed and the spring can be used to provide just the necessary pressure even if the series of guides and fingers are not ar ranged in a horizontal position.

In addition to these features, I have provided a limiting spring, independent of the adjusting spring, for receiving any blou' that might be imparted to the movable" fingers by a sudden increase in strain, prevent ing their recoil back with sufiicientforce} to break the yarn upon returning into contact with it. This does not act constantly but is a reserve cushion means adapted to come into action in case of a. sudden change occurring. On the other hand, it is not positive as it yields with the blow of the fingers and returns them to their normal position gently. It also prevents the automatic opening of the fingers fully under any conditions in practice, but permits the operator to open them wide for threading purposes and also prevents their being accidentally left open so that they will not exercise their function of regulating the tension.

For the purpose of illustrating these facts I have shown on the second sheet of drawings a device constructed on the principle above described and balanced for the spooling of very fine yarns. In this case the features that have been described heretofore are all shown and are given the same reference characters as above so that the description referring to the first sheet of drawings will also apply to the second sheet. The coiled spring 32 is here fastened to the toothed wheel 30 at one end and the other end hooked over or fastened to the pivoted guide holding plate 16 This construction provides for exactly balancing the drag against the desired tension or pullrequired to pack the yarn on the spool when the yarn is drawn through the guides at its slowest or normal velocity. /Vhen so balance'chif. the yarn strain remained constant, these yarn guides would remain intheir' adjusted position. Any increase in yarn strain must raise the pivoted yarn guides and release" a corresponding amount of yarn d thereby maintaining a constant tension.

ill]

The yarn itself regulates or controls its drag. For illustrating an extreme case, I have shown the device in a position balanced by adjusting the wheel 30 in the way already described, so that a smaller number of the upper fingers 17 are in contact with the yarn when the yarn running at minimum operating velo ity, if it should be desired. The movable fingers in practical. mill use all intermesh and are arranged or adjusted so that in the lowest position to which they can go the'highest one. is just ready to move up out of yarn contact on a slight increase in strain. In other words, they are balanced so that upon increase in strain they will immediately begin to move toward a position in which the yarn contacts will be reduced.

In this case also I have shown an additional spring 40 at one end to the shaft 14: and extending up over it and around under the frame 11 where it has a. hook to engage the frame or is fastened to the frame in any way. This is used because when the drag and tension are evenly balanced the sudden increase in yarn strain which often occurs causes the pivoted guides to suddenly jump out of yarn contact and their consequent recoil or rebound back on to the yarn often breaks it. his spring lO prevents any excess movement of the guides. It is made yielding so that the operator can open the fingers for threading.

Another modification indicated here is that the series of fingers 17 is shown as arranged in a straight line while the tin 12 are shown with those intermediate between the ends depressed below the pi i thereof instead of in a straight line in Fig. 2. When the yarn is passing over the first and last one without being depressed in the center, it will not engage the intermediate ones at It will be observed that if two fingers I? engage the yarn and cause two depressions or undulations in the yarn the yarn to the left of them will rest on the first and third fingers 12 and will not touch the second. The making of the guid 17* straight forces the yarn to change it? hearing point as the guide is raised or lowered.

Although I have provided for reducing the cutting and scoring of the guides by the yarn, it cannot be entirely eliminated. In the form shown on Sheet 1, it is necessary to replace the entire device when even one of the guides becomes cut badly enough. In the form shown in Sheet 2 I make the guides 12 and 17 individually removable by screw threading them and attaching them in that way and I also harden them to make them last longer. I also place a thin hardened piece 49 detachably on the support 9 for the same reason.

The device can be used on the coarsest yarns that are likely to be wound and the same device without change in the number of fingers or their mounting can be balanced for use on the very finest and weakest of yarns and even for fine copper wire wound with asbestos.

Although I have illustrated and described onlytwo forms of the invention, I am aware of the fact that other modifications can be made therein by any person skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as expressed in the claims. Therefore, I do not wish to be limited to all the detailsof construction herein shown and described but what I do claim is i. In a tension device, the combination with two sets of inter-meshing guides arranged to engage a strand of material to be wound and cause it to traverse a tortuous path, one set being pivotally mounted in position to exert a substantially constant total pressure on the strand, irrespective of its yarn bearing position, and adjustable means for reducing or increasing the pressure thus exerted on the strand to bal-' ance the drag caused thereby against the desired tension, the last named means being connected to the pivotally mounted guides to maintain the same leverage thereon in all operative positions of the guides.

Q. In a tension device, the combination with tension fingers resting their weight on the yarn with a constant pressure for providing the necessary drag, of means forbalancing the drag produced thereby against the yarn strain, and means for maintaining the balance so that the tension will remain substantially constant with varying yarn ve locity or strain. 7

3. In a tension device, the combination with a set of movable tension fingers, of a shaft connected with them about which they swing through an arc to bear against the yarn, a spring for holding them yieldingly in operative position, said spring being arranged to apply a substantially constant resistance to the motion of the tension fingers in all their operative positions, and means for adjusting the pressure of the spring.

I. In a. tension device, the combination with a set of movable tension fingers, of a shaft connected with them for moving them through an arc, spring coiled on the shaft for holding them yieldingly in operative position, and a toothed wheel free on the shaft to which wheel one end of the spring is fixed, said wheel being capable of being turned on the shaft to adjust the tension of the spring.

5. In a tension device, the combination with a set of movable tension fingers,-of a shaft connected with them for moving them through an arc, a spring for holding them yieldingly in operative position, a toothedwheel free on the shaft to which wheel one end of the spring is fixed, said wheel being iii capable of being turnedon the shaft to adjust the tension 01" the spring, and means for locking the wheel.

6. The combination of a fixed series of yarn guides, a pivoted series of yarn guides arn'nged to pass through and between the fixed series, and to rest by the force of grew ity in a position with all of them below the fixed series, so that the yarn passing over one fixed guide and under one pivoted guide, when so threaded through the two series, supports the pivoted series and forms a tortuous yarn path, a spring to provide the pressure desired on the yarn, and a means for adjusting the force of the spring.

7. In a tension device, the combination with a set of yarn guides and a. relatively movable set of alternately located tension fingers mounted to exert as a whole a constantpressure on the yarn or thread and arranged to move out of, or into, contact with the yarn one by one as the velocity and strain vary, and means for yieldingly l1olding the lingers in such position that at all times a small change in velocity or strain will instantaneously change the number ct yarn contacts.

8. In a tension device, the con'ibination with two series of intermeshing yarn guides, the several guides of one series being movable to the same extent toward and from the other and being located at unequal distances from the adjacent ones of the other series, of a shaft on which the movable guides are fixed, and a spring adjustable to vary the effective pressure of the pivoted guides on the yarn.

9. A yarn tension device having, in combination, a series of fixed yarn guides across which the yarn passes in its course in the machine, and a series of movable yarn fingers under which the yarn passes, said movable fingers alternating with the fixed yarn guides and pressing upon the yarn with a constant pressure, yielding means acting upon said fingers with a resistance that is substantially constant at all times while the yarn is running, and means for adjusting said yielding means so as to augment or diminish the pressure of the movable fingers upon the yarn, whereby the effective pressure may be balanced with respect to the varying normal tensions desired for different yarns.

10. A yarn tension device for a spooling machine having, in combination, a series 0t fixed yarn guides over which the yarn passes in its course in the machine, and a series of movable yarn fingers beneath which the yarn passes, said movable fingers alternating with the fixed yarn guides and being all carried by the same pivotedsupport and pressing upon the yarn which upholds them, a spring acting upon said support, and means for adjusting said spring so that it may add to the downward pressure of the movable finupon the yarn or may variably counterbalance the weight of the fingers, whereby the effective pressure may be balanced with respect to the varying normal tensions desired for different yarns.

11. A yarn tension device for a spooling machine having, in combination, a series of fixed yarn guides over which the yarn passes in its course in the machine, and a series of in vable yarn fingers beneath which the yarn passes, said movable fingers alternating with the fixed yarn guides, a support pivoted on an axis substantially parallel with the path of the yarn, on which support all of said fingers are carried in position to press upon the yarn which upholds them, the several movable fingers being located in all positions at varying vertical distances from their corresponding fixed guides, a spring acting upon said support, and means for adjusting said 'irii so that it may add to the pressure oi'the movable fingers upon the yarn or may variably counterbalance the pressure of the fingers, whereby the efifective pressure may be balanced with respect to the varying normal tensions desired for different yarns.

12. in a tension device, the combination of two series of guides arranged alternately to engage the material being wound and cause it to traverse a sinuous path, one set being mom ile, and means for yieldingly limiting the movement of the movable .ides away from the other series, said means becoming effective at any desired point of their intermeshing.

In a yarn tension device for winding ant spooling machines, the combination of two series of guides arranged to form a tortuous path for the yarn and exert pressure upon it to create yarn drag, means for adusting the pressure exerted by the guides to provide suitable drag at any desired velocity ot travel of the yarn and when its velocity less than its maximum, and means whereby whenever at any time the yarn velocity or strain increases the increase will automatically and immediately move one set of guides enough to remove one of the guides from contact with the yarn and thereby reduce the drag on the yarn and keep the tension constant by the action of the yarn itself.

14. In a yarn tension device, the combination with two sets of relatively movable guides for engaging the yarn, one of them being arranged to exert a constant pressure on the yarn in all its yarn contacting posi tio-n-s, of adjustable means for exerting pressure to provide the necessary drag on the yarn so that the drag will be. balanced against the desired tension when the yarn velocity is below its maximum, whereby any increase in velocity will reduce the drag enough to maintain the tension for which the device is balanced, said adjustable means being constructed and arranged to exerta substantially constant resistance against the separation of the guides, in any adjusted position.

15. In a tension device for a strand of flexible material, the combination with a series of tension lingers mounted and arranged to apply a substantially constant total pressure to the running strand and arranged to be moved by the strand as its strain and velocity vary to change the length of the undulations and the number 01: yarn contacts by the action of the yarn itself, and

means adjustable to increase or decrease the amount of said total pressure at will for the purpose of securing the desired tension, the last named means also bein arranged to act with a substantially constant resistance against the outward motion or the tension fingers in any operative position thereof, whereby the tension will remain constant 16. In a tension device for a running strand or thread, the combination with means acting ata plurality of points on the strand for producing a substantially constanttotal pressure on the strand at all times irrespective of changes in the velocity of the strand and the strain on it, of means for adjusting the pressure of said means to vary its total pressure on the strand and balance said pressure against the desired tension, said adjusting means being capable of being adjusted to either increase or decrease the total pressure at will, said pressure means being arranged to move with variations in the velocity and yarn strain and instantaneously, at all times while the strand is running, vary the length of the undulations of the yarn and number of yarn contacts.

1?. In a tension device, the combination with guiding means tor the yarn or thread, of a series of movable tension fingers engaging the yarn or thread alternately with said guiding means, exerting pressure due to gravity thereon, and capable of moving toward and from the guiding means with variations in velocity and strain and located at different distances from the guiding means and at all times, while the yarn is under tension, close to them so that the number of yarn contacts will vary instantaneously as they move, means for supporting said lingers with a minimum drag upon them in such position that an increase in strain at any time will'automatically reduce the number of yarn contacts, and yielding means for adjusting the position in which the lingers are supported to balance. their pressure on the yarn to the desired tension, substantially as described.

18. In a tension device, the combination of a series of stationary substantially horizontal yarn guides for upporting a strand oi? yarn passing over them having collectivea trough with oppositely slanting sides for receiving the yarn, with a corresponding series of st 'aight tension fingers above them adapted to pass down betwee-n said yarn guides, said fingers being supported by the yarn and pivoted on a transverse axis and located at all times and in all possible positions at varying vertical distances from the adjacent guides, and in such relation to the sides of said trough that the position of wear will vary as they swing away from normal position, said tension guides and lingers being relatively movable and so located relative to each other that the number of lingers which actually pass below the guides and contact with the yarn will be automatically reduced when the drag is increased beyond a certain amount of compensate for it and will be increased again when the pull on the yarn is similarly decreased.

19. In a yarn tension device, the combination of two series of intermeshing yarn guides arranged at varying distances from each other forming a tortuous yarn path, one series being pivoted on an axis parallel with the general direction in which the yarn moves, yielding means for providing a constant yarn tension, means for balancing the yarn drag against the desired tension, and yielding 'means for providing resistance against the lifting of the pivoted series at any desired point, thereby preventing abnormal lifting and consequent recoil.

In testimony whereof I have hereuntoaflixed my signature.

LEl/VIS T. HOUGHTON. 

